Ugh. This last debate was so hard to watch. My stomach is still turning. I am a supporter of both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton — have been for years. I could only vote for one candidate after waiting three hours in line at a North Carolina polling station (yes, such lines are nationwide). I don’t mind coming out with it. I voted for Hillary. And tonight, I realized I made the right decision.
There are a number of reasons I feel this way, and I won’t stir up more contention, as most of us have been through the ringer before, during and after this debate. What convinced me tonight was when Hillary brought up women’s rights and women's reproductive choice. She had to — because clearly non one else was going to do it. And most women following the debates have also wondered why no moderator or network seemed to care enough to ask.
Sure, Bernie cares. There is no doubt in mind he cares. He talked about his pro-choice voting and I imagine he’s been an advocate in many other ways. But I have personally been watching Hillary Clinton defend women since the 90’s when I attended my first Washington DC rally for women’s rights. There she was. And since then I have watched her remain diligent in our fight worldwide. I remember her introducing universal healthcare before anyone — and never receiving enough support from either party. I remember her addressing and helping women in Afghanistan who were being treated like animals under the Taliban rule. And I remember seeing memes with her pro-women quotes all over social media before she announced her presidential candidacy.
When she did put in her bid to run, I admit I was a bit disappointed. I wanted to see Elizabeth Warren run and I wasn’t sure Hillary could win. And losing to the Republicans, no matter how much I admired Hillary, was an excruciating thought — especially having lived through the Bush/Cheney reign. It was truly awful.
While watching the primaries this past year, I stayed undecided and I loved it. I was able to stand back and watch candidates and campaigns objectively. And when it started to get really ugly, I wrote about how we were “better than this.” When I heard people say they weren’t going to vote in the general elections unless their chosen candidate won the nomination, I wrote about it — because Daily Kos is the place to write about most any cause you believe in. All the while I remained objective and undecided.
But this past month I began to see one candidate become more relatable to my core beliefs on several issues. Both Hillary and Bernie are capable of leading the country; there is no doubt there. One of the biggest reasons I voted for Hillary was clear to me tonight. If a woman loses the right to control her own body, the size of her family, and her future—she is not free. And when women lose that right it affects every American. Women are often forced to leave the work place to take care of children, because they can’t afford to pay for childcare. And when the father leaves or cannot be found, it’s the women and children who are often forced into poverty and need government assistance. Sadly many don’t get then help because they don’t know it’s available — or they don’t know how to apply. If they do get help, guess who pays? Everyone pays in one way or another. Whether it’s through taxes, or simply by not reaping the benefits of a women’s view in business and in government.
Here’s the thing. I don’t want my daughter and her daughter to have to fight for the same reproductive rights my mother and grandmother fought for. I want to know that someone who is qualified to be president also understands what it’s like to be a woman. But only if I feel she is the most qualified. And so I thank Hillary Clinton for standing up for women tonight, whether she wins or loses, I will never forget it.
I say ‘whether she wins or loses’ because I believe anything is possible. I think both Bernie and Hillary believe that as well. So whomever we choose, we need to go vote for them. Even if every article you read says Hillary or Bernie is far in the lead, don’t let that stop you from voting. Do it, because the opposing party wants you to stay home — and do it because there’s nothing like getting that “I voted” sticker and smiling like a big dog all the way home or back to work. There’s nothing like it. Nothing.